Stoppers for preventing the fraudulent filling of containers

ABSTRACT

The stopper comprises a base engaged within the neck of a bottle and containing a part defining a valve seat. The base is interfitted with a cylindrical body which is externally threaded at its outer end for threaded engagement with a closing cap. An element formed with guiding ribs is slidable within the body and serves as a cage for a glass ball which engages a valve in turn engageable with the valve seat. When the closing cap is screwed onto the cylindrical body, the rib element forces the glass ball to engage the valve and force the latter against the valve seat. The closing cap has projections extending inwardly therefrom and engaged with projections on the ribbed element so that, as the cap is unscrewed, it rotates the ribbed element. The valve has projections which are engageable with the ribs so that the valve is also rotated on the valve seat to disengage the valve from the valve seat in the event that the valve adheres to the valve seat as a result of syrupy liquid in the bottle.

nited States Patent 1191.

Bereziat STOPPERS FOR PREVENTING THE FRAUDULENT FILLING 0F CONTAINERS [75] Inventor: Andr Bereziat, Lyon, France [73] Assignee: Astra Plastiquie, St. Georges De Reneins (Rhone), France 22 Filed: Dec. 18, 1972 21 Appl. No; 316,390

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data [451" Jan. 21, 1975- Primary ExaminerDonald F. Norton Attorney, Agent, or Firm- McGlew and Tuttle ABSTRACT The stopper comprises a base engaged within the neck of a bottle and containing a part defining a valve seat. The base is interfitted with a cylindrical body which is externally threaded at itsouter end for threaded engagement with a closing cap. An element formed with guiding ribs is slidable within the body and serves as a cage for a glass ball which engages a valve in turn engageable with the valve seat. When the closing cap is screwed onto the cylindrical body, the rib element forces the glass ball to engage the valve and force the latter against the valve seat. The closing cap has projections extending inwardly therefrom and engaged with projections on the ribbed element so that, as the cap is unscrewed, it rotates the ribbed element. The valve has projections which are engageable with the ribs so that the valve is also rotated on the valve seat to disengage the valve from the valve seat in the event that the valve adheres to the valve seat as a result of syrupy liquid in the bottle.

1'1 STOPPERS FOR PREVENTING THE FRAUDULENT FILLING OF CONTAINERS FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Countless stopper designs have already been proposed for more or less effectively preventing the fraudulent filling of bottles and like containers.

Such stoppers, usually made of plastics, comprise an internal valve subjected to the action of one or two ballsmade of glass or like material.

In accordance with my copending U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 296,937 filed Oct. 12, 1972, and now US. Pat. No. 3,814,273, issued June 4, 1974, the action of the balls under gravity is combined with a magnetic attraction of the valve.

Inany event,-it may happen that, after initial utilization, the valve sticks against its seat, particularly in the case of a syrupy liquid, and is found difficult to unstick.

SUMMARY OF THEINVENTION BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows in axial section an application of the invention to a stopper of the kind described in the abovementioned patent application;

FIG. 2 is a corresponding view of a stopper devoid of magnetic attraction of the valve; and v FIG. 3 shows the stopper of FIG. 2 in the'pouring position. l

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring first to FIG. 1, the stopper shown thereon includes a base l'adapted to be forcibly driven into the neck 2 of a bottle. Base 1 terminates at its lower frustoconical end in a cross-piece 3 upon which rests a glass ball 4 when the bottle is upright.

Interfitted with base 1 and forming part of the -stopper is a substantially cylindrical body 5 formed with a screw-thread 6 with which cooperates the female thread of a closing cap 19.

Vertically slidable within body formed with guiding ribs 29.

A glass ball 10 is contained in the space included between the upper end of element 7 and the ribs 29. Whenthe bottle is in an upright position, ball 7 presses against the valve 12, which valve comprises internally a plastic ring 13 made into a magnet by means of magnetized steel powder.

The valve is formed with a downward cylindrical extension and an axial abutment l5, and cooperates with an annular soft-iron seat 16 which is accommodated in a part 17 and cooperates with cylindrical extension to insure leaktightness.

Ball 4 is movable within the space bounded by cross- 5 is an element 7 piece 31 abutment 15 and the ribs 18 on element 17.

In accordance with this invention, each time the user wishes to pour liquid from the bottle he unscrews the cap 19 and in so doing rotates the element 7 by reason of the cooperation of pegs 20 on cap 19 with lateral ribs 21 on element 7.

Valve 12 carries laterally projections 22 which are rotated by their cooperation with the lateral ribs 29 of formed with weakening lines 23 and 23a bounding a tear-off strip in the manner well-known per se. This As in the embodiment described precedingly, the

stopper includes a portion 1 which .is adapted to be forcibly driven the-bottleneck but which is upturned inwardly to form a circular seat 25 for the valve.

The valve is formed by a float 26 the volume of air within which is determinedaccording to the density of I the liquid to be bottled.

top of which is in pressure contact with the plastic cap- Valving float 26 is acted upon by a glass ball 10, the

ping element 7. The top of element 7 is formed with rotating ribs 21 cooperating with pegs 20 on the cap'l9 I of the stopper screwed overthe body 5.

What is claimed is:;

' 1. A stopper for preventing fraudulent filling of a container having a neck, comprising, in combination, a stopper body including a base engaged within the container neck and defining a valve seat; an internal valve engageable with'said valve seat; an external closing cap threaded on the stopper body; displaceable means interposed between said cap and said valve and maintaining said valve engaged with said valve seat when said cap is threaded on said stopper body; said 5 displaceable means being movable a limited distance outwardly in said stopper body upon unscrewing of said cap to provide for said valve to disengage said valve seat; and means, including drive means onsaid cap, coupling said valve to said cap for rotation of said valve, responsive to unscrewing of said cap, to disengage saidvalve from said'valve seat in the event of said valve adhering to said valve seat due to a syrupy liquid v contained in said container.

'2. A stopper, as claimed in claim l, in which said displaceablemeans comprises a ball; an internal element housing said ball; said internal element being formed with ribs; said drive means comprising projections on said valve and said cap cooperating with said ribs.

3. A stopper, as claimed in claim 1, including an outer plugging capsule enclosing said cap and embracing said neck, said outer plugging capsule being crimped into an annular recess in the outer surface of said container neck.

inwardly of said valve seat; said displaceable means comprising a first ball; said valve having a projection thereon extending axially thereof into said cage portion; and a second ball in said cage portion engageable with said projection, upon tilting of said container to pour liquid therefrom, to disengage said valve from said paramagnetic valve seat. 

1. A stopper for preventing fraudulent filling of a container having a neck, comprising, in combination, a stopper body including a base engaged within the container neck and defining a valve seat; an internal valve engageable with said valve seat; an external closing cap threaded on the stopper body; displaceable means interposed between said cap and said valve and maintaining said valve engaged with said valve seat when said cap is threaded on said stopper body; said displaceable means being movable a limited distance outwardly in said stopper body upon unscrewing of said cap to provide for said valve to disengage said valve seat; and means, including drive means on said cap, coupling said valve to said cap for rotation of said valve, responsive to unscrewing of said cap, to disengage said valve from said valve seat in the event of said valve adhering to said valve seat due to a syrupy liquid contained in said container.
 2. A stopper, as claimed in claim 1, in which said displaceable means comprises a ball; an internal element housing said ball; said internal element being formed with ribs; said drive means comprising projections on said valve and said cap cooperating with said ribs.
 3. A stopper, as claimed in claim 1, including an outer plugging capsule enclosing said cap and embracing said neck, said outer plugging capsule being crimped into an annular recess in the outer surface of said container neck.
 4. A stopper, as claimed in claim 1, in which said displaceable means constitutes at least one ball; said valve having a permanent magnet incorporated therein; said valve seat comprisinG an annular member of paramagnetic material cooperable with said permanent magnet to effect tight seating of said valve on said valve seat.
 5. A stopper, as claimed in claim 1, in which said base engaged within the container neck has a cage portion inwardly of said valve seat; said displaceable means comprising a first ball; said valve having a projection thereon extending axially thereof into said cage portion; and a second ball in said cage portion engageable with said projection, upon tilting of said container to pour liquid therefrom, to disengage said valve from said paramagnetic valve seat. 